Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-18

db uISb, Out Ten acres were afterwards aQQ-
ed for the soldiers. After Thornrose was
opened, there were very few burials at
Trinity graveyard-onlyi in cases of mar.
ried people where the husband or wife was
already laid there
THE MONUMENTS.
The first monument ever erected in
Thornrose was that put up for James
Points, U S. Marshal. who is buried in the
eastern part of the grounds. Since then
there have been many handsome tomb
stones; but few monuments. The most
striking are the New Hampshire granite
shaft over VIM. Frazier, the Virginia
granite block over John B, Baldwin, the
Scotch granite shaft over John Wayt and
the double marble shaft in A. III. III. stu.
arts lot. The largest amount of marble
in any one lot is in that of John Church
man.
THE MORTALITY.
There are about 5000 persons, of both
colors buried there; about fifteen hundred
Of them are soldiers. The busiest time !
ever had in grave-digging was in 1852
The cholera had broken out among the
hands at work at the Blue Ridge Tunnel.
and many of them were brought over here
and put with their friends in Irish ALLEY
and around there. They died fast, and
nany citizens also died of the disease.
suppose buried fifty of the victims.
Another busy time was when the SOL
diers were here. Sometimes buried fifteen
of them, day, but there were always
soldiers detailed by the government to
help me.
LARGE FUNERALS.
"What vas the LARGEST funeral process
sion that ever came to Thornrose ?"
"The largest that ever came there was
Mayor Nick. Trout's. There never was
one as large before or since. All the people
were out, the Societies ,and even the school
children. Another large one was John
BaldWin's''
COUNTY FAMILIES IN THORNROsE.
There have not been many county fami-
lies buried there. All can think of are
the families of J. Wayt Bell, Col. james
Crawford, and John Churchman. They all
lived around the town, and Staunton was
convenient.
BAD WEATHER FUNERALS.
81 suppose you havehad some right hard
weather for some of your work p
''Sometimes pretty bad; but the worst I
ever saw for funeral. was that when Alex.
ander B. Cochran was buried. 1t was on
the 4th of July, 1875, and in such a thun-
der storm as was never seen here before.
The lightning came so fast and bright
that it seemed to play around the top of
the ccffin as it was lowered into the grave.
The Masons were at the grave and Capt.
Z. D. Ransom was Marshal of the process
sion and Mr.. Howard Wayt, Master OF the
Lodge. The rain poured in torrents and
when the Masons left the grave and cross
ed the gutter at Shott's house, the water
was knee-deep and they had to wade
through.
Another bad day for funeral was when
Edward NEWMAN, who was killed by fall
when clearing the snow from the top OF
of the Opera House, was buried. At his flu
neral the snow was knee-deep,a land it lasted
for three weeks. There were good many
funerals, too, that winter.
The grave digging in Thornrose is not
interfered with in many places by rock.
The shallowest grave in the lot is three
feet deep.
THE SOLDIERS.
I have told you that we sometimes burr
ed fifteen soldiers in day. Mr.. Chand-
Ter was the undertaken for the govern
ment. Sometimes there would be burial
service and sometimes not. Rev. Mr..
Smith, an Episcopal minister from West
Virginia, was the chaplain of the post and
lived out at West View. Sometimes be
wouldn It come in and Mr. Chandler would
tell him 1t was great shame there was no
burial service. Mr.. Smith would say
that he was the superior in rank of Rev.
Geo. b. Taylor and that it was Mr.. Tay-
lor's duty to be there when he was absent.
THE ONLY GHOST SEEN AT
THORNROsE.
"Were there every any attempts at body
snatching from 1hornrose2''
Never" said Mr.. Mcnamara, and
here the venerable grave digger fell into a
fit of uncomfortable laughter. "But there
was something like it that makes M e
laugh every time | think of it. A man
came 90 me one night about bed time, to
take up the body of his brother, a North
Carolina soldier, to send 1t home. He
said he was soldier too and only had a
furlough for short time. and the body
must be gotten out that night in time to
ship by the morning train. Well, said L
you will have to wait till the moon rises sc
T can get good light to work. When the
moon rose went to the grave and opened
it and got down into it. 1t was not deep
Right by 1t was path that Mr.. Donaghe' Is
farm hands used to make straight cut te
and from town. l heard some one com.
ing from town and saw man nearing me
I was STOPPING trying to get a rope around
the coffin when | raised up and called tG
the man. "Come here. l want you" He
stopped and gave great groan. He dida't
fall, but turned and ran. giving grOan al
every step. If any one were to give me a
bag Of gold couldn't have caught him
When be came to the fence he broke
through and carried down with him four
or five panels of it. never was able tG
find out who he was.
No; there was never any body snatchine
nor any watching for it but once. A col
ored woman belonging to Rev. Mr.. Will
son. Principal of the Wesleyan Female
Institute died land ne was afraid she Wonle
be stolen. He came out and engaged ma
to watch night or two. did SO Du
there were DO signs Of anybody coming tt
disturb the grave"
Petition for License.